St. Louis Blues Coming To Ingalls Rink To Support "White Out for Mandi"

The St. Louis Blues will attend the Yale women’s hockey game vs. Brown Jan. 24 and join the “White Out for Mandi,” which will honor the memory of former Yale player Mandi Schwartz, Class of 2010, and serve as a fundraiser for the Mandi Schwartz Foundation.

Mandi’s brother, Jaden Schwartz, is a forward in his third season with the Blues, who will also practice at Ingalls that afternoon at 3 p.m. That practice is open to the public and the goal for the women’s game is to fill Ingalls (capacity 3,500).

“Our family was very deeply touched when we heard that the Blues organization committed to attending the White Out for Mandi and was also moving their practice to Ingalls Rink,” Carol Schwartz, Mandi’s mother, said in a press release. “We would especially like to thank Blues president of hockey operations and general manager Doug Armstrong, head coach Ken Hitchcock and all Jaden’s teammates for supporting this great event in honor of Mandi.”

Mandi Schwartz died of cancer in 2011.

“I think this commitment to attend the White Out for Mandi speaks volumes about the depth of the Blues organization,” Carol Schwartz said. “This is a true reflection of the heart and soul of the Blues family -- a family that drafted Jaden knowing full well that during the draft Jaden’s heart, mind and soul were in the midst of the greatest tragedy he would probably ever face. A family that stood by him, that supported him throughout, that provided him with opportunities when the time was right and now a family that will stand by him as he for the first time walks into Ingalls Rink and skates in the arena that his sister Mandi so loved and cherished.”

Mandi Schwartz’s jersey and locker remain in the Yale locker room at Ingalls. Another of Schwartz’s game-worn jerseys was given by the Schwartz family to Upper Deck, which has created Mandi Schwartz hockey cards for a “Heroic Inspirations” series. Those cards will be on sale Jan. 24 and donations will be accepted.

The Blues play at the Rangers on Jan. 23 and at the York Islanders Jan. 25. The attendance record for a women’s game at Yale is 1,539, Nov. 1, 2005 for an exhibition game between Team USA and an ECAC all-star team.